Today, 13 June, we salute and honour the following men & woman who sacrificed their lives whilst standing in the defence of what they held dear at the time and against evil and tyranny.
SOUTH AFRICAN BORDER WAR
13 Jun 1973: 61286936E Captain Anthonie Johannes Brits from 8 Squadron was killed when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7135 crashed near Bloemfontein during a routine training flight. He was 28.
RHODESIAN BUSH WAR
1976 – Private Emmanuel CHAKA, 1st Battalion, RAR, KIA. He was killed in a contact, aged 19 years. This account from the RhAF No 7 Squadron Pilot: “I was flying a G-car in a Fire Force. 15 insurgents had been reported and we went to find them. They found me! We were circling a specific area whilst the Fire Force commanders sorted out a plan, and, as I flew over some rocks the aircraft came under intense small arms fire and was hit a number of times. At least we now knew where they were! Unfortunately a soldier of 1 Battalion RAR sitting next to me was badly wounded. We stripped him of his machine gun and ammunition, landed the remaining troops in the contact area, and sped off to the medical facility at base some minutes flying away. Alas, Private Emmanuel Chaka was found to be dead on arrival. The aircraft had sustained several hits and the engineers wanted to patch up the aircraft there and then, but, displaying a brave front not reflecting how I felt inside – we refuelled and immediately went back to the action. I was glad to find it was just about over when I re-joined!”
1977 – Private Isaac JAKATA, 2nd Battalion, RAR, died on active service.
1977 – Private Faizel KARIM, 3 Protection Company, RHU, Rhodesia Defence Regiment, died on active service.
1978 – Private Benedict NYONI, C Company, 1st Battalion, Rhodesian Regiment, KIA. Killed in a terrorist action.
† Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten †
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